How do you build a utopia? A perfect society, where everyone’s needs are fulfilled, where everyone can eternally be happy. Well, let’s first consider what makes many unhappy in imperfect societies. Poverty, homelessness, hunger, thirst - all sources of misery that we can remove. Give to everyone all that they might need. With these base needs fulfilled, no longer would people have their lives shaped by the constant need to survive. Freed from their shackles, the people would be able to pursue whatever they want to… Yet would they pursue anything? What purpose would they chase after when they live without a single need? And in this purposelessness, would they not find a new misery? Would they not once again be shackled, this time not by their base needs, but by an endless chase for purpose? How many in our world who live without a single need can be described as happy?

Perhaps a different approach is in order. Keep all these basic needs, but ensure that none fall into a true deficit. Give each an opportunity to live well if they wish to. And remove all those unnecessary catastrophes that would harm the people. No more war, no more disease, no more pollution. A true meritocracy, with purpose, but without suffering… But would this be enough to excise suffering? Is not the root of suffering in humanity itself? So long as there are those that are above, no matter the reason, jealousy will find its place in peoples’ hearts. So long as there are those that are below, pride will find its way into peoples’ minds. And both jealousy and pride will breed hate. Hate will lead to conflict. Conflict will lead to suffering. The nature of mankind is to be divided after all.

Well, if humanity itself is the root of misery, then it should be tamed. Restrict the freedom of the people, so that there will be no conflict or discrimination. Ensure that there will be no situation that could bring about those feelings. Protect them from themselves. With this you would have a perfect world, free of hate… But could these people find happiness, while knowing it comes not from their own designs? If you remove choice itself, would they not see their lives as not their own? And what greater misery could there be than having your very own life taken away from you? Moreover, how could you prevent all hate, except by isolating every person? In isolation, they would be free of hate, but also free of love. They would be free of misery, yet also free of happiness. Could such existence even be called life?

If restriction will only take away from society, then manipulation is the better path. Allow them all the illusion of freedom, but nudge their wills in the right direction. Create an enemy that they can hate in place of their fellows. Provide them multitudes of choices in their governance, yet push them to select the best through happenstance and education. Ensure not that they follow your every choice, but that their thoughts arrive at your decisions before you make them. With this there will finally be freedom and happiness… But wouldn’t this world necessitate some suffering by its very nature? How could hate so consistently be channeled if it is not reciprocated? And wouldn’t this reciprocation have to cause great misery and violence to convince all to stray from their flawed nature? And even then, would this be enough? Even in a united front against a hateful enemy, wouldn’t we still find time for conflict amongst ourselves?

Perhaps humanity is too flawed. Remake them in a better form. Purge hate from them, purge the desire to divide, purge misery itself. With this utopia could be achieved… But what purpose do we have for utopia made for a creature so foreign it could not be called human?